TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF COWPEA PRODUCTION IN OSUN STATE NIGERIA

This paper presents the analysis of technical efficiency of cowpea farmers in Osun State Southwest Nigeria, using the stochastic production frontier. The farmers’ average technical efficiency is 87%, which suggest an appreciable use of inputs in productivity. Analysis of technical efficient and some socio-economic variables using tobit regression model is found to be significantly different from zero at 1% for cooperative membership and farming experience. These are farm size, seed, hired labour, family labour, fertilizer and pesticides. It is suggested that farmers should be encouraged to join cooperative society and extension services agents should intensify their efforts in training and mobilizing farmers for improved production of cowpea. The variables- farm size, seed, hired labour, family labour, fertilizer and pesticides